April 16, 2008

THE DAILY JOURNAL

By Rebecca Cho

LOS ANGELES – Eric A. Klein, the former co-chair of Katten Muchin Rosenman’s West Coast corporate practice, has taken his substantial book of business to Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, where he will start today as a partner in Century City.

John J. Molloy III, who was also a corporate lawyer at Katten, has moved with Klein, and joins the firm as special counsel.

Klein, 48, said to have a book of business in excess of $5 million, cited a desire to grow his practice as motivation for his move. He said Los Angeles-based Sheppard Mullin’s corporate department has been seeing a rapid expansion in California and firmwide.

“Katten has not seen the same growth on the West Coast that Sheppard has,” Klein said. “My practice is continuing to grow and needed a better platform.”

But Gail Migdal Title, Katten Muchin’s Los Angeles co-managing partner, insisted that the firm is strong on the West Coast. She said the firm recently added Roseann Stevenson, an environmental lawyer who had her own private practice, and who was formerly with Morgan, Lewis & Brockius.

While Title said she wishes Klein well, she said his leaving was by joint assent.

“By mutual agreement, Eric Klein and the firm decided to part ways,” Title said. “As far as Mr. Molloy goes, he came to the firm with Eric. He’s worked with Eric for many years. So, we understand his leaving with Eric.”

Klein and Molloy joined New York-based Katten Muchin in 2003, from what was then Shaw Pittman.

Klein, who specializes in health care and life sciences, said he expects to bring his entire book of clients, which includes Plymouth Health and WSA Global Holdings.

In 2007, Klein represented Plymouth Health in its purchase of Alvarado Hospital in San Diego.

Jon Newby, a corporate partner in Sheppard Mullin’s Century City office, said Klein brings strengths in areas in which the firm has been trying to grow: health care and technology.

“We’re very excited,” Newby said. “Many of us, including me, have known Eric for many years and have worked with Eric. He’s a great corporate lawyer, very well known in the community.”

Klein received his law degree from Boston University School of Law in 1985.

Molloy graduated from the USC Gould School of Law in 1972. His corporate practice focuses on entrepreneurial and middle-market companies.

Legal recruiting firm Watanabe Nason Schwartz & Lippman brokered the deal.